eames



2 sheets-#sheet 1.

(No Model.)

H.. H. EAMES. METHOD 0F TREATING DRES.

vPatented Nov. 20, 1894.

ITLUETLLDT mlb-E55 E5 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. H. EAMES.

METHOD OP TREA'IING GRES. 4No. 529,441.r Patented NOV. 20, 1894.

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Maf www UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

HENRY H. EAMES, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN M. NIOOL,

TRUSTEE, OF SAME PLACE.

METHOD OF TREATING ORES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 529,441, dated November 20,1894. Application led October 9,1893. Serial No. 487,682. (No specimens.)

To all whom t may con/cern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY H. EAMES, of Detroit, in the county of Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods of Treating Orcs, of

which the following is a specilication.

My invention consists in an improved method of the treatment of ores, known as sulphides, arsenides, tellurides, and others of 1o the same class, in which the sulphur, arsenic, tellurium, or like substance, is separable from the ore by sublimation or distillation.

The object to be attained is, iirst, the separation from the ore of substances such as arsenic,tellurium,zinc, antimony, and the like,

which are separable by distillation or s ublimation, andthe securing of these substances in marketable condition in the form of arsenic, sulphurous acid, arsenious acid, white oxide of zinc, and the like, according` to the process employed; second, the alteration of the structure and composition of ores containing precious metals, so that these metals may be reclaimed in metallic form by any of the 2 5 known methods.

The drawings illustrate an apparatus which may be used to practice my process,in which-d Figure l is a vertical central section. Fig. 2 is a section on line x-, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a partial elevation, partly in section, and Figs. 4 and 5 are a side view and plan view of a slightly modified form of grate.

A represents a furnace, of any suitable construction provided with a iire chamber A' having a grate B, and fire and ash pit doors L and M.

G represents a chamber contained within the furnace A, an annular space D being left between the outside of chamber G and the inside of furnace A.

O represents a liue which connects the combustion chamber of A with space D.

N N represent baffle plates alternately closing opposite sides of space D to force the product-s of combustion to travel around chamber G, and Hrepresents a smoke flue.

K represents a grate which closes the bottom of chamber G, and this grate is preferably made in two halves, as shown, hinged to the bottom of the chamber, and provided with controllable air openings, Figs. 4 and 5 illustrating them made like registers, with one fixed and rotary point, provided with slots.

J is a pit under chamber G into which the contents of said chamber can be dumped.

I P is an exhaust pipe leading from the top of chamber G to one or more eondensers of any known type, and I prefer to hinge the elbow I to the main pipe P at F,'for convenience in charging. 6o

E E represent air channels, or tu yeres, opening into chamber G at various levels by which air can be admitted to the chamber at will. Tuyeres E E are provided With valve-s O, (illustrated as of the register type,) by which air can be admitted into the chamber at different zones and in regulated quantity. For the treatment of ores containing gold and silver, zinc or arsenic, tellurium or antimony, the operation is as follows; an ore con- 7o. taining zinc being chosen for description: By means of a re in furnace A, the chamber G is first heated to the proper temperature, (about a bright red,) and then is charged with broken ore. The top of chamber G is then connected to the condenser by elbow I. All the .air openings into the chamber G are closed, and the re is maintained in the furnace until the ore is sufficiently heated to volatilize the zinc. When this heat is attained, 8o the air openings at the bottom and lower air openings at the sides of the chamber G are par-tly opened, and sufficient air is permitted to enter the chamber to oxdize the zinc. The progress of the operation may be ascertained by inserting a rod through the different air openings E. The rod will be more or less coated with oxide of zinc. The upper part of chamber G above the charge acts as a com` bustion chamber, to thoroughly oxidize at 9o this point any zinc which may have reached that part of the chamber without being previously oxidized. When the lower portion of the charge has been depleted of the zinc therein contained, the bottom air ports are fully opened and the air ports next above are Vpartly opened, thus oxidizing the zinc oontained in the ore in the second zone ofthe chamber G, the process being aided by the air which enters through the bottom and roo lower air ports, and which becomes highlyA heated by passingvup through the mass of incandescent material. In this manner I proceedupward from zone to zone, and the operation is complete when a rod inserted through the highest air openings does not collect any white oxide of zinc. The chamber G is then discharged by opening the hinged bottom K, the elbow I being first disconnected. Any precious metals which the ore may contain, as well as any base metals which are not volatile, may be readily extracted by known processes. The oxide of zinc rising from the ore is carried off through elbow I and pipe P, cooled by any known suitable form of condenser, and nally discharged into receivers in the form of White oxide of zinc. The sulphur contained in the ore burns in the chamber G, in cases )Where air is used for oxidizing, thus aiding in heating the material therein, and passes off through pipe P as sulphurous acid.

-Itfwill be seen that the process is exactly the same'for the production of white oxide of zinc, White arsenic, oxide of tellurium or oxide of antimony, the dierence in product being due to the difference in the material treated.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

'I'he herein described method of treating ores of the class described, consisting in heating the ore in a chamber closed against the entrance of products of combustion, admitting air to the bottom ot' said chamber and as the process progresses gradually admitting air at points in different zones in regular succession from bottom to top, and leading off and condensing the resulting oxide, substantially as set forth.

HENRY I-I. EAMES.

Witnesses:

HENRY B. LoTHRoP, AMELIA WILLIAMS. 

